William Allingham Quotes

William Allingham presents breezy, nature-rich verses that lift the spirit of poetry lovers.

24 quotes

1. Up the airy mountain, Down the rushy glen, We daren't go a-hunting, For fear of little men.

2. Winds and waters keep A hush more dead than any sleep.

3. Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.

4. Autumn's the mellow time.

5. Oh, bring again my heart's content, Thou Spirit of the Summer-time!

6. Scarcely a tear to shed; Hardly a word to say; The end of a Summer's day; Sweet Love is dead.

7. Tantarrara! the joyous Book of Spring Lies open, writ in blossoms.

8. Mary kept the belt of love, and oh, but she was gay! She danced a jig, she sung a song that took my heart away.

9. Pluck not the wayside flower; It is the traveler's dower.

10. Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods, And day by day the dead leaves fall and melt, And night by night the monitory blast Wails in the key-hole, telling how it pass'd O'er empty fields, or upland solitudes, Or grim wide wave; and now the power is felt Of melancholy, tenderer in its moods Than any joy indulgent Summer dealt.

11. Poor Paddy of all Christian men I think On basest food pours down the vilest drink.

12. Fairies, arouse! Mix with your song Harplet and pipe, Thrilling and clear, Swarm on the boughs! Chant in a throng! Morning is ripe, Waiting to hear.

13. Does not the latent feeling that much of their striving is to no purpose tend to infuse large quantities of sham into men's work?

14. Sin we have explain'd away; Unluckily, the sinners stay.

15. History of Ireland--lawlessness and turbulency, robbery and oppression, hatred and revenge, blind selfishness everywhere--no principle, no heroism. What can be done with it?

16. Soul's Castle fell at one blast of temptation, But many a worm had pierced the foundation.

17. Politeness costs nothing. Nothing, that is, to him that shows it; but if often costs the world very dear.

18. A man who keeps a diary pays, Due toll to many tedious days; But life becomes eventful—then, His busy hand forgets the pen. Most books, indeed, are records less Of fulness than of emptiness.

19. Bare twigs in April enhance our pleasure; We know the good time is yet to come… Bare twigs in Autumn are signs for sadness; We feel the good time is well-nigh past.

20. I have been an "Official" all my life, without the least turn for it. I never could attain a true official manner, which is highly artificial and handles trifles with ludicrously disproportionate gravity.

21. The mother's kiss is the sweetest thing ever.

22. Writing is learning to say nothing, more cleverly each day.

23. Ring-ting! I wish I were a primrose, A bright yellow primrose blowing in the spring! The stooping boughs above me, The wandering bee to love me, The fern and moss to creep across, And the elm-tree for our king!

24. One who can see without seeming to see-- That's an observer as good as three.